Saying the A’s are “faced with the reality of the standings,” general manager David Forst tried to paint a bright picture of trading right fielder Josh Reddick and lefty starter Rich Hill to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three young right-handed pitchers.

It wasn’t an easy sell.

“Josh, in a lot of ways, became the face of the franchise,” Forst said in a conference call. “He connected with fans, the staff. I can’t say enough about him. We had discussions in the last year over how to find ways to keep him here. At the end of the day, it was clear we were not able to get to where we wanted to be, that was disappointing. We never take lightly when a player wants to stay in Oakland. He was an excellent representative of our organization.”

But the A’s, who are tied for last in the American League West at 141/2 games out of first place, were unable to work out a contract extension.

In a tweet, Reddick thanked the A’s organization, for whom he’s played since 2012, “I played in some very memorable and spectacular games. I wouldn’t be where I am without Oakland,” he wrote.

The A’s received a package of pitchers that includes right-handed reliever Jharel Cotton, and right-handed starters Frankie Montas and Grant Holmes. Cotton pitched last month in the All-Stars Futures game. Montas and Holmes both are on Baseball America’s list of Top 100 prospects.

Nonetheless, A’s players took the news hard. Reddick and Hill were among the most popular players in the clubhouse and there were hopes that contract extension talks with both would bear fruition.

“Obviously, I don’t know anything about the three players we’re getting,” catcher Stephen Vogt said. “I’m hoping they are replenishing the minor league system with good arms.

“Losing Red and Rich hurts on the field and changes the dynamic in the clubhouse. You saw what Josh means to this team with the five weeks he spent on the disabled list this year. I hope bringing him back next year isn’t off the table.”

The A’s went 14-20 during the five weeks Reddick lost to a fractured left thumb in May and June.

“It never gets any easier,” reliever Sean Doolittle said of the trade. “I’ve been with the team for several years, and when you make trades at the deadline it’s always tough. Rich was a really big bright spot. I loved watching him pitch, the way he competes. You pull for a guy like that.

“Reddick’s been one of our core pieces. It’s going to be a lot different without him on the field because of what he did and what he meant to the organization.”

Reddick, 29, had a slash line of .296/.368/.449 with eight homers and 28 RBIs this year, the relatively low home-run total being impacted by the five weeks on the D.L. But his .816 OPS is the highest of his career, he won a Gold Glove in 2012 and he has one of the best outfield throwing arms in baseball.

Hill, 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA, has made just three starts since the end of May, first because of a groin injury and more recently because of a blister. He’s currently on the disabled list but should be ready to pitch this weekend.

But the A’s haul did receive a compliment from one American League scout, who said, “They did well for two players who will be free agents at the end of the year.”

Holmes, 20, was the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick in 2014 and was the fifth-ranked prospect in the Los Angeles organization, according to mlb.com. He’s 8-4 with a 4.02 ERA, mostly as a starter at Rancho Cucamonga in the Class-A California League. Forst said conversations between the A’s and Dodgers always included Holmes.

A South Carolinian who reached 100 mph with his fastball in high school, Holmes generally goes about 92-95 mph and has movement. He also has a curve that drops off the table.

Cotton, 24, was ranked 13th in the L.A. system, again according to mlb.com, and has been mostly starting this season. In 22 games (16 starts), he has an 8-5 record and 4.90 ERA while averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings. From the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cotton peaked at 97 mph in the Arizona Fall League last year but sits at 92-95 most of the time. His changeup is highly rated by scouts.

He collects strikeouts at a high rate (119 in 971/3 innings this year) but has command trouble, averaging about three walks per game. He will start at Nashville, but Forst said “there’s a lot of swing-and-miss to his game.” Forst added that the A’s hope to see him in Oakland before the end of the season.

Montas, 23, is the great unknown. He has thrown 102 mph but generally goes at 98-100 mph. While he has started, some scouts see him as a closer.

The A’s will use him as a starter, but not right away. He broke a rib in February, had surgery, and had another rib injury in June. He’s almost healthy now, but it’s not clear he will pitch before the minor league season ends in about a month. Forst said Montas has “a special arm” and Oakland hopes he will start a throwing program in the next week or so.

It may be cautionary that three teams have traded him before his 24th birthday — the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and now the Dodgers. Montas, who was up briefly with Chicago last year, has pitched at both Double-A and Triple-A this season in the L.A. organization. He has no record and 2.25 ERA in only seven games pitched because of the rib injury.

For more on the A’s, see John Hickey’s Inside the A’s blog at . Follow him on Twitter at .